ANS TV

ANS TV was an Azerbaijani news television channel operated by ANS Group of Companies. The channel began broadcasting on 26 November 1991 and was described as the first privately owned independent television company in the former Soviet Union. Its name, ANS, derived from “Azerbaijani News Service,” reflecting a news-centered identity rather than a general entertainment positioning. The channel became particularly recognized for reporting from conflict zones and areas affected by political instability during the early post-Soviet period. Its journalists covered events connected with Chechnya, Georgia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Afghanistan and Ingushetia. ANS TV’s field footage was also sold or supplied to international broadcasters, including the BBC, CNN, NBC, ZDF, ARD, VOX, RAI, TF, Russia-1, CBS and TBS. This international circulation of footage helped establish the station as a regional news-gathering organization beyond its domestic television audience. ANS TV was also associated with a strongly pro-government editorial orientation. That characterization formed part of the channel’s public identity and distinguished it from descriptions of the station as an independent broadcaster. In addition to news, the channel carried locally oriented programming. One cited project was “Bizimkiler,” a music program featuring prominent Azerbaijani musicians performing internationally known Western songs. The project was run in the period surrounding Azerbaijan’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011. The channel’s operating history ended in July 2016. ANS TV had announced plans to broadcast an interview with Fethullah Gülen. Azerbaijan’s National Television and Radio Council subsequently stated that the channel’s broadcasting license would be permanently revoked. The regulator accused ANS of contradicting what it described as the strategic partnership between the Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples by providing support to Gülen and his supporters. ANS TV was taken off the air on 18 July 2016 and is therefore a defunct media brand.

ANS TV was established on 26 November 1991 as part of the ANS Group of Companies. It developed during the early post-Soviet period, when newly independent media organizations were emerging across the former Soviet republics. The station was described as the first privately owned independent television company in the former Soviet Union. Its name, Azerbaijani News Service, signaled its primary focus on television news and reporting. A major element of ANS TV’s identity was its coverage of armed conflicts and political crises in the region. The station reported from Chechnya, Georgia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Afghanistan and Ingushetia. This emphasis on frontline reporting gave it visibility beyond Azerbaijan, and ANS supplied or sold footage to a range of international television organizations, including the BBC, CNN, NBC, ZDF, ARD, VOX, RAI, TF, Russia-1, CBS and TBS. Although characterized as an independent private broadcaster, ANS TV was also described as staunchly pro-government. Its programming was not limited exclusively to hard news: the station also produced or carried locally focused cultural and entertainment content. Among the cited examples was Bizimkiler, a project featuring leading Azerbaijani musicians performing well-known Western songs. The project appeared around the time of Azerbaijan’s success in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. ANS TV’s history ended in 2016 after a dispute involving its proposed broadcast of an interview with Fethullah Gülen. The channel announced that it planned to air the interview, after which Azerbaijan’s National Television and Radio Council said that the station’s broadcasting license would be withdrawn permanently. The council alleged that the planned broadcast contradicted the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey by supporting Gülen and his followers. ANS TV was removed from the air on 18 July 2016. No subsequent operating history is established in the supplied reference material, so the brand is classified as defunct.

• 2016

  Broadcasting license revoked

  [1]ANS TVen.wikipedia.org

  After announcing a planned Fethullah Gülen interview, ANS TV lost its broadcasting license and was taken off the air on 18 July 2016.

• 2011

  Bizimkiler music project

  [1]ANS TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ran Bizimkiler, featuring Azerbaijani musicians performing globally known Western songs during the period of Azerbaijan’s Eurovision success.

• 1991

  ANS TV founded

  [1]ANS TVen.wikipedia.org

  ANS TV began operations on 26 November 1991 as a privately owned Azerbaijani television broadcaster.

A privately owned Azerbaijani television news channel with a strong field-reporting identity and a generally pro-government editorial reputation.

• Television news · 1991

  ANS TV news broadcasts

  The channel’s core offering was television news centered on Azerbaijani and regional affairs. ANS became particularly associated with field reporting from conflict zones and political flashpoints across the former Soviet space and neighboring regions. Its reporting footage was distributed to or sold to numerous international broadcasters.

• Music and cultural programming · 2011

  Bizimkiler

  Bizimkiler was a music project featuring leading Azerbaijani musicians performing internationally known Western songs. ANS TV presented the project in the period surrounding Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

• 2016

  License revocation over planned Fethullah Gülen interview

  Azerbaijan’s National Television and Radio Council announced the permanent withdrawal of ANS TV’s broadcasting license after the channel said it intended to broadcast an interview with Fethullah Gülen. The regulator accused the station of supporting Gülen and his followers and of contradicting the strategic relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The channel was taken off the air on 18 July 2016.

  Source

Read more

• 2011Bizimkiler

  Azerbaijan

  ANS TV produced a music project in which prominent Azerbaijani musicians performed globally known Western songs.

  Outcome. The project was associated with the period of Azerbaijan’s success in the Eurovision Song Contest; a separate commercial outcome is not specified.

  Source

• 2016

  Planned broadcast of a Fethullah Gülen interviewOther

  Background

  ANS TV announced that it intended to broadcast an interview with Fethullah Gülen, a decision that triggered regulatory action in Azerbaijan.

  Action taken

  The National Television and Radio Council stated that the channel’s broadcasting license would be permanently revoked, and ANS TV was removed from the air.

  Aftermath

  ANS TV ceased operating as a television broadcaster on 18 July 2016.

  Source

1. 1ANS TVen.wikipedia.org